Best Colleges in North Carolina (2023 Rankings)

From large four-year public universities to smaller liberal arts colleges, North Carolina has no shortage of great higher education institutions. If your stance on the epic sports rivalry between Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hasn't already solidified your NC college of choice, then you've come to the right place to narrow down your options.

Get ready to dive into our 2023 rankings of the best colleges in North Carolina. Our methodology took into account everything from each school's location and size to its strengths and notable degree programs. Rest assured that we've included top colleges for a variety of students in an effort to include great options for everyone.

Duke University

Location: Durham, NC
Size: Around 16,000 students
Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Master's, Accelerated Master's, Doctorate
Highly-Ranked Degrees: Biomedical, Engineering, Computer Science, Nursing, Medicine
Most Unique Degrees: Medieval & Renaissance Studies, Romance Studies, Marine Science & Conservation

Founded in 1838, Duke University is a prestigious private research university that often outranks top U.S. Ivy League universities. While Duke's 8% acceptance rate requires a killer GPA and test scores, the school boasts an impressive 88% four-year graduation rate and a stellar 96% six-year graduation rate.

Duke's Blue Devil's sports teams have racked up an impressive number of NCAA championships and ACC championship titles, making the university a top draw for college athletes. But rest assured you don't have to be a pro to enjoy Duke's many intramural sports teams. You can go Greek, or join one of over 700 different student clubs.

Duke offers over 50 majors, 50+ minors, and over 20+ certificates to choose from. 

While their School of Medicine and Engineering programs are both particularly well regarded, a Duke degree in pretty much anything will be enough to make you stand out on a job application.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location:Chapel Hill, NC
Size: Around 30,000 students
Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Masters, Doctorate, Professional
Highly-Ranked Degrees: Public Health, Medicine, Law, Education, Business
Most Unique Degrees: Exercise and Sports Science, Sexuality Studies (Minor), Peace, War, and Defense

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill first began offering classes in 1795, making it one of the first public universities in the United States. Set in the beautiful town of Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill is a fairly large university with a 25% acceptance rate, 85% four-year graduation rate, and 91% six-year graduation rate.

Much like their rivals at Duke, the UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels enjoy an outstanding reputation for their athletic prowess. Often nicknamed the "University of National Champions," the college is a top draw for athletes and sports fans alike.

Students can choose from 74 bachelor's degrees, over 100 master's degrees, 65 doctorate degrees, and seven professional programs. With an incredibly impressive academic track record, UNC-Chapel Hill consistently ranks among the nation's top colleges.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Location: Raleigh, NC
Size: Around 36,000 students
Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Master's, Doctorate
Highly-Ranked Degrees: Agriculture, Engineering, Business, Biomedical Science
Most Unique Degrees: Poultry Science, Turfgrass Management, Professional Golf Management

Raleigh's North Carolina State University (NCSU) is a large, highly-rated public college that offers over 100 different majors for undergraduates and over 200 master's and doctoral degree programs. With a 48% acceptance rate, NC State is selective, without being too overly competitive.

Whether you want to study crops, chemistry, or anything in between, you'll find plenty of great options in NCSU's extensive course catalog. You'll find just as much variety when it comes to the college's 600+ student organizations, including a thriving Greek scene.

Wake Forest University

Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Size: Around 9,000 students
Degrees Offered: Pre-College, Bachelor, Master's, Ph.D. (Biology and Chemistry)
Highly-Ranked Degrees: Business, Social Science, Communications/Journalism
Most Unique Degrees: American Ethnic Studies (Minor), Environment and Sustainability Studies, Politics & International Affairs

Founded in 1834, Wake Forest University is a private research university that offers the benefits of an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. With an average freshman enrollment of around 1,500 new students each year, Wake Forest's acceptance ratio of 32% can be fairly selective.

Students can choose from 45 different majors and 60 different minors, many of which focus on liberal arts. About half of the students at Wake Forest University are active in the college's Greek scene and many more participate in a selection of over 200 chartered student organizations.

Davidson College

Location: Davidson, NC
Size: Around 2,000 students
Degrees Offered: Undergraduate degrees only
Highly-Ranked Degrees: Economics, Political Science, Biology
Most Unique Degrees: Digital & Screen Media, Military Science, Preministry

While Davidson College has a selective 20% acceptance rate, the private college offers an impressive financial aid system designed to help students cover costs exclusively through the Davidson Trust and student employment programs. The small university offers an exceptional 9:1 student-faculty ratio that likely explains its 89% four-year graduation rate and 93% six-year graduation rate.

Davidson offers over 30 different majors (including the option to design your own) and 40 different minors, many of which include undergraduate research opportunities. With 21 NCAA Division I sports teams and 200 student organizations, Davidson is a great choice if you're looking for a smaller school with a tight-knit community.

Elon University

Location: Elon, NC
Size: Around 7,000 students
Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Master's
Highly-Ranked Degrees: Theater, Ranks #1 in Teaching, Finance
Most Unique Degrees: Dance Science, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Supply Chain Management

Elon University (no relation to Mr. Musk) is a mid-size private school that features over 70 majors for undergraduates and 10 different graduate degree programs. With a 72% acceptance rate and an 80% graduation rate, Elon offers a small class environment with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio.

Elon's undergraduate teaching program is among the best in the country, and is one of just seven U.S. private universities that boasts accredited schools of law, business, communications, education, and health services. The school also offers plenty of great student clubs and Greek organizations in an inclusive environment designed to help every student thrive.
 

Appalachian State University

Location: Boone, NC
Size: Around 20,000 students
Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Masters, Accelerated Master's, Doctoral (Psychology, Education)
Highly-Ranked Degrees: History, Health Professions, Education, Communications
Most Unique Degrees: Addiction Counseling (Grad Certificate), Appalachian Studies, LGBT Studies (Minor)

A four-year public college, Appalachian State University offers 150+ bachelor's degrees and 80 graduate degree programs. Not only does App State have an 80% acceptance rate, but it also boasts an impressive variety of dual-degree programs and online programs for remote and out-of-state students.

App State is also well known for its research opportunities, and each year over 7,800 participate in academic internship opportunities. With 300+ clubs and organizations, 50+ multicultural clubs, and a campus-wide emphasis on sustainability, Appalachian State offers plenty of opportunity on an absolutely gorgeous campus.

Honorable mentions

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) is a large public university with around 30,000 students, over 60% of which transfer from in-state community colleges. UNC Charlotte offers 75 different undergraduate degrees, including options like Firefighting and Jazz Music.
• East Carolina University (ECU. Greenville's East Carolina University (ECU) is a large public university and the only college in NC that offers a School of Medicine, Dental School, and College of Engineering & Tech, all in one place.
• University of North Carolina Wilmington. The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a large public college with around 17,000 students. It offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in everything from Nursing and Business to Criminology and Psychology.
• North Carolina A&T State University. Greensboro's North Carolina A&T State University is one of the largest HBCUs in the U.S. and boasts the country's largest number of Black graduates in agriculture, engineering, liberal arts, and journalism.
• Western Carolina University. Located about 50 miles from Asheville, Western Carolina University sprawls across a gorgeous 600-acre campus in Cullowhee, NC. The mid-size public university offers a vast selection of degree programs, including popular favorites like business, management, and marketing.
• High Point University. Private Methodist school High Point University (HPI) has a student body of around 6,000. HPU offers 60 undergraduate degrees and an impressive range of graduate degree programs, including doctorate degrees in Medical Science, Biomedical Science, Business, and more.

Find your top choice for higher education with College Rover

North Carolina is a treasure trove of higher education, with over 65 four-year colleges and over 55 community colleges. 

Whether you're an in-state student looking for the best schools near you or an out-of-state student looking for the best colleges in North Carolina, College Rover has got your back. Research all the information you need about North Carolina's best public universities, private schools, community colleges, and everything in between all from one easy dashboard.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.